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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
     We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting part of this
Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated January 10, 1998, except
as to Notes 1, 3 and 10 which are as of April 7, 1998 relating to the financial
statements of ITT Educational Services, Inc. which appear in such Prospectus. We
also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting
part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated January 10,
1998 appearing on page F-1 of ITT Educational Services, Inc. Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997. We also consent to the
references to us under the headings "Experts" and "Selected Financial Data" in
such Prospectus. However, it should be noted that Price Waterhouse LLP has not
prepared or certified such "Selected Financial Data."
    
 
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana
   
April 9, 1998